IF YOU ARE A SMALL RETAIL BUSINESS YOU COULD SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BUSINESS RATES / REGISTER FOR ‘LEWISHAM MEANS BUSINESS’
IF YOU ARE A SMALL RETAIL BUSINESS YOU COULD SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BUSINESS RATES
If you are a small retail business you may be able to save on your business rates. In the Government’s Autumn statement it announced a new form of business rates relief. The amount of retail relief is up to £1000 for the period 2014/15 and 2015/16 dependant on annual business rates due.
In order to qualify your rateable value must be no more than £50,000.Business premises must be occupied and providing retail services but not financial services, such as banks, payday lenders, betting shops or pawn brokers,
Nor estate agents or employment agencies, nor medical services such as doctors, Dentists or vets nor professional services such as solicitors, accountants, financial advisers etc.
Can apply to takeaway food outlets but you must hold three or more stars for food hygiene, show 50 per cent of menu is not deep fried and pay employees at least the equivalent of the London living wage.
In order to claim the savings you need to contact your council’s business rates team and complete a simple declaration form. This is available for small retail businesses in all five of our boroughs of Crystal Palace
The Croydon contact details are [email protected] or ring 0208 726 7000 and ask for a retail relief application: declaration form
This saving is comparatively easy to obtain so do apply and keep the money in the Crystal Palace economy.
REGISTER FOR ‘LEWISHAM MEANS BUSINESS’
Businesses in Lewisham have been invited to register for the second Lewisham Means Business exhibition and expo on Thursday 12 February at the Civic Suite in Catford.
The free event from 9am to 5pm is organised by Lewisham council in conjunction with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Delegates from local SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) will get the chance to meet local suppliers, take part in speed networking, find out how to promote their business using social media and learn about the support available to them from the council.
Guest speakers will include Nick Howe from NatWest who will offer advice on starting up a new business, and Ola Agbaimoni, founder of Eelan Media, who will explain the highs and lows of social media.
The event will feature exhibitors offering business-to-business services as well as legal and financial advice. In addition, free one-to-one advice sessions will be on offer to attendees.
If you run or work for an SME based in Lewisham book your free place online or call 020 3039 3039.